Advances In Parkinson's Disease: A Virtual Series for Person

 January 28, 7:00 pm central 

We will discuss the advancements in the diagnostic tools used to help confirm or refute the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease earlier and more accurately. These include neuroimaging, skin biopsy, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) testing, and genetic testing.  We will also discuss the current theories behind the prevention of PD, slowing of PD progression and current research studies testing these theories. Finally, we will discuss when to start treatment and treatment options for early PD. We will discuss the various early treatment options available and some of the considerations when choosing the initial treatment strategy, as well as pointers to getting the best response from these treatments. 

 February 4, 7:00 pm central 

This lecture will discuss the timing, dosing, and the various forms of levodopa including immediate release, controlled release, extended release, inhaled, infused, and fractionated. We will also discuss the myths regarding the use of levodopa, including when to start and long-term efficacy of levodopa. ON, OFF and dyskinesia will be discussed during this lecture. We will provide insight to understanding and recognizing OFF episodes and review motor and non-motor symptoms that may worsen during OFF time. We will also define dyskinesia and discuss how to differentiate from tremor. We will discuss treatment options for OFF and dyskinesia such as changing the timing or dose of levodopa, using on demand therapy, and adding an additional medication such as MAO-B inhibitor, COMT inhibitor, amantadine, A2A antagonist.

 February 11, 7:00 central 

 This lecture will continue to discuss OFF and dyskinesia. We will review subcutaneous levodopa infusion, carbidopa/levodopa enteral suspension, deep brain stimulation (DBS) and focused ultrasound (FUS) as treatment options for PD. The lecture will include when these therapies should be considered, who is a good candidate, a review of outcomes, possible side effects, and how these therapies fit in with other PD treatments.

 February 18, 7:00 central 

This lecture will review the non-motor symptoms that can occur even before a PD diagnosis, as well as the various symptoms that may occur throughout the disease course. Treatment options for non-motor symptoms, particularly drooling, orthostatic hypotension, hallucinations, delusions, memory impairment, depression, and anxiety will be reviewed. 

 February 25, 7:00 central 

The final lecture will be a wrap up with important pointers from the previous lectures. It will also include a discussion regarding the importance of seeing a PD specialist, having a multi-disciplinary care team including dieticians, physical, occupational and speech therapists, social workers, psychologists, pharmacists, etc., getting the most from your clinic visit, questions to ask, information to provide to your doctor, and resources available for those with PD, caregivers, and loved ones. The lecture will end with a discussion of treatments currently under investigation for the treatment of PD including those designed to delay or potentially reverse disease progression, as well as investigational symptomatic treatments.